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CBC News - CES: Canadian company shows off HDTVs, portable PC |
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CBC News Tech Bytes — Celebrating one year in business, Mississauga, Ont.-based
VisionQuest made its debut at the Computer Electronics Show by
showcasing its newest flat-panel HDTVs and a small portable notebook PC. CBC NewsBy Ted Kritsonis, Special to CBCNews.ca
VisionQuest considers itself a "tier 2 brand," suggesting that it
offers more value for those consumers who have less to spend. While all
the other major TV manufacturers are slimming down their bezels and
panels, VisionQuest hasn't been able to follow suit.
But the company did introduce a flat-panel that has a slide-in box in
the back that turns the TV into an Internet Protocol (IP) device.
There's an ethernet port and two USB ports, which connect the TV to
your home network, along with external hard drives to watch whatever
content you have saved on them.
The IPC TV should be in stores throughout Canada this spring, though no
pricing has been set for the 32-, 37- and 42-inch models.
On the PC front, the company presented a new LCD monitor called the
VisBoard that works much like a tablet PC. An included stylus pen
allows you to write down notes or navigate menus. Artistic types can
doodle on photos and other documents as well.
The 22-inch screen is also adjustable, so it flips up and down to make
it easier for a small group to look at the same thing. Business types
might like that.
Not to mention that the company confirmed to me that the VisBoard
will work with Mac and Linux as well. And the cost is pretty
competitive, rounding out at $500.
VisionQuest also introduced the VisBook, a mini-notebook computer that
runs the Windows CE operating system. It runs on a 400 MHz processor,
64 megabytes of RAM (1 gigabyte of flash RAM) and is Wi-Fi-enabled on
the 802.11b/g standards. The screen measures seven inches, and the
overall size of the VisBook is just as small as a lot of other portable
mini-notebooks out there. The price will be about $300, with a spring
release being likely, the company said. |
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